Some Ontario Transit Riders Can Now Use Presto Card in Apple Wallet

Apple Wallet Now Accepted for Public Transit Fares in Toronto and Hamilton

Apple has announced that Presto cards can now be added to the Apple Wallet, allowing users to pay for fares on the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), GO Transit, UP Express, and other Ontario transit agencies. This new feature was introduced in a news release on July 16th.

Commuters can now conveniently use their iPhone or Apple Watch to pay for transit fares, making travel easier and more efficient.

Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, “We’re thrilled to bring PRESTO to Apple Wallet, enabling GTHA residents and visitors alike to securely and seamlessly use their iPhone or Apple Watch to ride transit.”

How to Add Presto Card to Apple Wallet

To add a Presto card to your Apple Wallet, simply register the physical card to a Presto account. It’s important to note that once the physical card is transferred, it will no longer be usable. Users are advised to download their transaction history before converting the card.

Here are the steps to convert a physical Presto card into a digital one in the Apple Wallet:

Sign into your Presto account and select the card to add to the wallet.
Tap the ‘convert to Apple Wallet’ button.
Follow the prompts.
Use your phone to scan the physical card by holding it against the back of the phone until a checkmark appears on the screen.
Hit the ‘Add to Apple Wallet’ button.

New Presto cards can also be purchased and added to the wallet. TTC riders have the option to purchase a card for their Apple Wallet instead of converting a physical card. Here’s how:

Sign into your Presto account.
Click ‘Add a card.’
Select the ‘Presto in Apple Wallet’ option.
Follow the prompts to add funds to the card.
Enter a nickname for your card.
Hit the ‘Add to Apple Wallet’ button.

Using Apple Wallet for TTC Fares

Presto cards in the Apple Wallet must have ‘Express Mode’ enabled to pay transit fares. While multiple cards can be stored in the wallet, only one can be set to Express Mode.

Once Express Mode is enabled, users can simply hold their iPhone or Apple Watch near a reader to pay. The devices do not need to be unlocked or awake for the Presto card to work. Even if an iPhone is in low-power mode, it can still be used to pay transit fares.